“Did I do something wrong?” Dana asked.
“No. When I felt you, some sort of defense mechanism went off. Sorry, I thought I could control it.”
“Perhaps if you allow them to make a connection before you try to project?” Zeus suggested.
I felt an uneasy smile forming. “That’s a great idea—I’m embarrassed I didn’t think of it first.”
I nodded to Dana and Wakinyan. An instant later I felt them—it was similar to being compelled. Dana shook her head. Wakinyan pressed his thick eyebrows together for a moment, and then tensed his shoulders and relaxed.
“Oh, maybe we need physical contact—Ozara is always touching the temple of the little girl,” I said.
In a fluid movement, Dana sank to the ground beside me and pressed her fingers gently to my left temple. Wakinyan placed one enormous digit to my right temple, and I felt them both. Like a thought on the verge of forming, I sensed their presence in my head. I ignored the annoying sensation and closed my eyes. A moment later I was hovering above the treetops, looking down at the blond pixie on my left, and the russet hulk on my right.
“Can you see?” I asked.
“Not with my eyes, but yes—I’ve never experienced anything like it,” Wakinyan said.
“Amazing…” Dana said.
“Get ready, this isn’t anything.”
I focused on Ozara.
“I felt that,” Wakinyan said. “You’re concentrating on Ozara.”
“Yes, and that reminds me, it’s important that neither of you convey emotions—she can sense that. When I keep my emotions under control, I’m invisible to her.”
“Understood,” Dana said, before I refocused on Ozara and shot through the void between us.
The late afternoon desert sun cast a golden hue on the sparse Alliance stronghold. A few dozen Alliance Fae congregated in the growing shadows of a jutting stone on the periphery of the encampment, while others patrolled in concentric rings that spread out for miles. Ozara and Zarkus were inside a Clóca barrier with the elders—what was left of them. Neither of my passengers said a word as I slipped through the energy membrane and drew closer to Ozara. Thirty minutes ago she’d been floating around the Weald—I felt her presence—but seeing her in the flesh was different. Were it not for Dana and Wakinyan, I wasn’t sure whether I would have the self-control to be so close. For them, I kept the rage buried.
I’m sure both were taking notes of the Alliance Fae who remained. I made a mental note myself. The little girl Ozara used to project was close. Ozara had just been projecting in the Weald and managed to make it here in less than half an hour. I stored that little gem of information for later. The bigger question on my mind centered on the rest of the Alliance: where were they? All but a few hundred were gone. That made me nervous.
I didn’t know many of them, but one glaring absence was Ix-Chel, the former Seelie Council member who’d been an Ometeo once. I didn’t think she’d stay loyal to Ozara. They seemed to have a difficult relationship before, and Ix-Chel absolutely loathed Zarkus and the former Unseelie. She, however, remained devoted to Ozara, even after the Alliance attacked the Ometeo. Well, what do I know?
Regardless, Ix-Chel was nowhere to be seen. In fact, I didn’t see many Ometeo at all and that really bothered me. I hoped Wakinyan and Dana wouldn’t mind the change of plans. I made an unannounced side trip, diverting my attention to Ix-Chel. Tethered together, the three of us streaked through dark undefined space homing in on the former Seelie Elder. Light re-entered my senses and the scene below me couldn’t have been more different than the desert we just left. We found her standing on a white sand beach with turquoise waves as a backdrop. She stared at a tiny, skeleton-thin woman, who held a position just at the line between the beach and a low-lying expanse of tropical foliage. From the air, the atoll circled a turquoise lagoon and looked almost heart-shaped—a shape that seemed out of place for the tension I immediately felt. It was early morning there, so I guessed it was an island in the South Pacific somewhere.
Bronze-skinned, and feminine despite the muscular build, Ix-Chel was largely a mystery to me. Gavin said that before she joined the Seelie, she had a fearsome reputation. For millennia, she wore a wide black tattooed band across her eyes like a mask, accentuating the fierceness of her face. Like Sara’s icy blue Sidhe eyes, it was a mark she’d given up when she joined the Seelie. The ancient peoples of Central America generally regarded her as a violent, ill-tempered harbinger of death. Before its dissolution, I had spied on the Seelie Council quite a bit and knew her to be quiet and contemplative, but definitely not a being to mess with. Even without the black band across her eyes, she scared the hell out of me.
Her larger than life copper eyes remained fixed on a tiny naked Fae who I didn’t recognize. Long lustrous black hair cascaded off her thin shoulders and covered her bare breasts. Her build was slight, much like Sara’s, but with smooth glistening bronze skin covering angular, almost harsh features. Her mahogany eyes were as red as they were brown, and very unsettling. The diminutive creature curled her fingers just slightly, and leaned forward as though she might launch into the Alliance Fae singlehandedly. Behind Ix-Chel, several hundred Fae took positions above the white rolling surf where the cobalt sea slammed a barrier reef a hundred yards off shore—nervous tension filled the air. If I didn’t know better, I would have thought Ix-Chel and the Alliance Fae were afraid of her.
Both Dana and Wakinyan reacted nervously to the Fae, causing my tether to rebound just as Ix-Chel said, “No, I am being quite serious.”
“Then you think I’m stupid?” the tiny woman said, causing Ix-Chel to take a defensive step toward the surf. I closed within fifty feet. Ix-Chel didn’t react, but the hideous little Fae tightened her shoulders and flexed the lean muscles in her arms.
“I am telling you the truth—Ozara sent me to welcome you and your clan…and offer you a place in the Alliance.”
The tiny being tensed up even more. Her skin looked paper thin above the cords of muscles. “Welcome? That is an innocuous term unbefitting Ozara’s intent, and completely disingenuous, uttered from the lips of a Seelie hunter,” The little woman hissed to emphasize her displeasure. “It surprises me that she would send you and what looks like the bulk of your old clan—she must not place much value on your lives.” Her mahogany eyes scanned the horizon. “So, it’s true, Tonitueth is dead?”
An old memory bubbled up from my subconscious as I remembered Ozara pulling his heart out from atop the pyramid. It was a horrific memory, and it apparently struck a nerve, as emotion also filled Ix-Chel’s face. “Yes, it is true.”
The little Fae cocked her head slightly. “By Ozara’s own hand?”
Ix-Chel nodded.
“You are a coward, Ix-Chel. Ozara murdered two of your elders, subjugated your clan, and has you doing her bidding—your clan deserves a stronger leader than you.”
Ix-Chel took a deep breath and composed herself before she spoke. “I’m doing what I must to ensure the survival of my clan, of our way of life. Would you do any less for yours?”
“Survival of your clan? Ironic, as you’ve seen fit to bring them into my territory with thinly veiled threats.”
“I’m not here to threaten you, Pele. And I am most certainly not going to entertain any of yours.”
Pele, oh crap. As in the Volcano Goddess, Pele? Holy…. She’s as old as Ozara. No wonder Ix-Chel’s nervous.
The diminutive Fae seemed amused, and moved forward slowly. “That was no threat, Ix-Chel, just an observation—one that, I assume, is not lost on you.”
“It is not. We will respect your decision if you decide not to join us—I have Ozara’s word. We…” Ix-Chel looked over her shoulder, “are not a conquering army—”
“No, you are certainly not that,” Pele mocked them and laughed aloud.
I expected a reaction from the Ometeo, but they did nothing. This doesn’t seem real—when was the last time hundreds of Fae were mocked by a naked troll who stood
no taller than a twelve-year-old?
“—but do not underestimate Ozara’s and Zarkus’ resolve. Should you interfere with their plan, the consequences will be dire.”
Pele’s eyes flashed and she channeled an immense amount of Fire energy. Ix-Chel did nothing in return but retreat back off the island. She, too, was Fire-inclined, but only a few million years old. Pele was what Zeus called a first-order Ancient—one of the first few dozen Fae. She was unafraid of being outnumbered two hundred-to-one. A wave of scorching heat radiated from the shore. It turned the top of the sea into a curtain of steam and forced the Alliance Fae to retreat. I understood it not as an attack but as Pele’s way of saying, get lost. My suspicions were confirmed when Ix-Chel morphed into Naeshura and led the force east at top speed.
It probably wasn’t smart, but I couldn’t stop myself. I focused on Pele’s position and closed the distance. She turned toward us, somehow picking up on my presence, or more likely, Dana and Wakinyan who were surprised by my move and emitting nervous energy.
“And who are you?” she asked with a grave, raspy voice befitting a chain smoker.
“I’m the Maebown, Maggie O’Shea.”
“And who is that with you? I sense two of them.”
“The Ohanzee elder, Wakinyan, and the Sidhe leader Dana.”
“I know who they are.” Pele didn’t look impressed. She acted disinterested, bored. “What are your terms?”
“Terms?”
Condescension filled her voice. “You are here for the same reason as the Alliance, are you not? You want a partnership.”
“I didn’t plan to come here. I was tracking Ix-Chel,” I said.
“I am in no mood for social calls, Maebown. I felt you arrive. At first I thought it was Ozara spying again. When I realized it was not, I assumed—incorrectly, I gather—that Caorann sent you to deliver counter-terms.”
“I’m sorry, no.”
“Then I have gambled foolishly, and risk losing my territory and having my clan hunted to extinction. If you do not have terms, then I would very much like to catch Ix-Chel and accept hers.”
“Caorann is dead.”
Dana reacted. She was upset that I told Pele, and the wave of emotion played havoc with my ability to remain on the island. I fought for control and managed to stay in place.
A look of horror crossed Pele’s bony face. “Then it is worse than I feared. Two Aetherfae against Caorann and a Maebown—very bad odds, but a fight I was willing to take…” she exhaled through a long pause and closed her eyes. “…you have no chance.”
“Don’t underestimate me—I am still your best bet.”
A wicked smile formed on her face and she glared in my direction, her eyes seemed more red than brown in the sunlight. “My best bet for what?”
“For living.”
The smile melted off Pele’s face.
“Even if you cut a deal with Ozara, she and Zarkus will kill you—I’m sure you know that.”
Pele nodded slightly. “I was hunted by the Seelie for two thousand years—”
“That was before Ozara learned how to project. Now, there is nowhere you can hide. Besides, I picture you as more predator than prey.”
Pele huffed like a bull preparing to charge. “Spare me the human psychology. Have you created another Aetherfae to balance the odds?”
“Not yet. I’m going to. I’m making the decision in two days.”
Pele laughed aloud, and turned to walk back into the lush green vegetation.
“What’s so funny?” I asked, following her into the shade of the coconut trees that swayed overhead.
“That’s how you’re keeping them together, isn’t it—promising to share the secret of Aether? Of course it is. If you didn’t promise, the clans would have already left you. Clever, but you have a bigger problem. Be mindful, Maggie O’Shea, I know the Elders—once you’ve trusted one of them with the secret, you’ll create enemies out of the rest. We really are a petty and vengeful species.”
“I understand the dilemma. I just don’t see any other options. The question remains: will you stand with us?”
Her raspy voice floated over the squawking sounds of birds. “No, Maebown, the question is, who is us?”
“The Ohanzee, the Sidhe, and the Olympians are in the Weald. We have an agreement with the Alfar, the Fee, the Kabouter, and the Kobold, and Bastien is with the Ancient Ones.”
“You overstate your support I think. The Ancient Ones stand with the Oceanids and Neieds—they are not with you,” she said. “Bastien is with no one but himself.”
“He is my ally.”
“Perhaps, Maebown, but when was the last time you saw him? Was he there to defend Caorann? I bet he was not. He will not be there when they come after you, either.”
“I’m not going to argue with you. I want your help, and if we succeed, I want your input on where to go from there.”
Pele morphed into a large white seabird with gray markings, ignoring me.
“Find Bastien in the next two days. Ask him yourself.”
“And you, Maebown, you need to visit Cesaret and Sombra Fantasma—they are my allies and they are in danger.” Pele took to the air without saying another word.
“The who? Where? Pele, where do I find them?”
She disappeared. I asked Dana and Wakinyan, do you know who she means?
A vague energy entered my awareness. We do. Shall we return?
“Yes.” I allowed the tether to pull me back to my body.
Both still had their hands on me when I opened my eyes. Dana gingerly withdrew her touch and frowned. “I’m sorry I doubted you—you handled her very well, very well indeed.”
Wakinyan let his club-sized forearm drop to his side. “Yes, but you should have asked her about the Oceanids.”
Dana nodded. “That’s true…”
I was confused. “What do you mean?”
It registered with Wakinyan, who sighed and nodded. “She appeared to have information about their allegiance.”
“I’m sorry—I didn’t think about it. You could have suggested.”
“No,” he said. “We will find out soon enough.” He smiled.
“What did you experience?” Zeus asked.
Wakinyan kept his eyes on me, answering the question as though I’d asked it. “We understood everything you showed us. We couldn’t hear what was said in a traditional sense, but telepathically, I understood every word spoken—I even heard the wind whistling through the rocks in the desert, the surf breaking on the reef, and the sea birds protesting as Pele walked past their nests. It was remarkable, but when you became stressed, we couldn’t communicate with you.”
I felt my face blush. “I’m sorry.”
Wakinyan laughed at me, “And right on cue, you act like that is your fault. Nonsense. You were communicating clearly—we are the ones with the problem. It was good to know Pele has not chosen sides—yet.”
“Pele?” Zeus asked.
“Yes,” I said.
Poseidon hacked and spit like he’d swallowed a bug.
“I’m sorry, my friend, I know the two of you have a complicated past,” Zeus said.
“I could go another eon without laying eyes on that wretched steam vent. Did she talk to you?”
“Yes, I tried to get her to seek out Bastien, but I couldn’t get her to listen to me.”
Poseidon nodded. “Yes, she is still as unpleasant as a splinter in a blistered hemorrhoid, I see. Eh, pay that gargoyle no mind, Maggie. This conflict is dragging the worst sort out from under their rocks.” He smiled at me before he turned and headed toward the lake with Justice in tow.
THIRTY-ONE
PRESSURE COOKER
“What did you learn?” Zeus asked us.
I let Wakinyan answer—I was curious to know what he and Dana had experienced.
“The Alliance has a rudimentary but highly effective defense net. Ozara has dozens of Fae patrolling the perimeter in concentric spheres, with parties of three c
ircling in at random intervals and varying speeds—no groups very far from one another. It was actually quite beautiful to behold. In the patrols, one Fae is in physical form, two in Naeshura, and from what I could ascertain, each unit is comprised of mixed inclinations. They were generating energy fields to ensure that no border crossing can be made undetected. I’ve run several thousand scenarios, and have not found a strategy that will allow us to get close to the elders without unacceptable collateral damage. With two Aetherfae, quite simply, the Alliance is not vulnerable at that location.”
“I feared as much,” Zeus said. “Their defense is exactly what we did after the last incursion, except they have thousands.”
“More troubling, Isis has taken a position at the Seoladán.”
“Isis?” I asked. “I thought Ozara would have killed all the Ancients by now.”
Sinopa rich voice filled the area under the trees. “Isis is fourteenth. Pele, in case you are wondering, is thirteenth, Ozara twelfth. I have no doubt that Ozara and Zarkus have designs on her death, as well, but they are patient. Isis is very powerful and the true leader of the Jinn—even Anuket wouldn’t challenge her. The Jinn freely follow the Alliance, and are as important as the remnants of the Seelie and the Unseelie. Perhaps more. If Isis were to die, support for Zarkus and Ozara would weaken.”
“Should we target her?” I asked.
Dana fought to control her disapproval, but didn’t say a word. I tried to do some quick damage control.
“I’m not suggesting—I’m merely asking.”
Zeus came to my aid. “The Jinn are a complicated clan. Before the first Fae war, they fought a civil war of sorts. Ra, who was a subordinate of Isis, achieved Aether and attempted a coup. She, and the more moderate elements of the Jinn, retreated to Asia. They formed an alliance with the Asa clan in North Africa and the Rakshasha and Aspara clans in southwest Asia. Together, they drove Ra and his followers from their territory.”
“And right into the open arms of the Unseelie—thus the first Fae war,” Sinopa added. “To avoid what she believed would be a terrible reprisal from Zarkus and Ra, Anuket betrayed the Jinn and joined the Seelie. Ra was destroyed before he could obtain vengeance on Isis. I can only guess, but I assume the tension between Anuket and Isis has to be powerful, especially since Ozara left Anuket in charge. Suffice to say, without Isis, I don’t believe the Jinn would follow Anuket or Ozara.”